Editorial: True reform? Redraw the map on redistricting

Tuesday

Sep 22, 2009 at 12:01 AMSep 22, 2009 at 10:16 PM

Of all the reforms that have been proposed to address political incompetence and corruption in Illinois, if we could have just one - apologies to campaign contribution caps, also much needed - it would be changing the way Illinois draws its state legislative and federal congressional boundaries for the purpose of electing candidates every 10 years.

Of all the reforms that have been proposed to address political incompetence and corruption in Illinois, if we could have just one - apologies to campaign contribution caps, also much needed - it would be changing the way Illinois draws its state legislative and federal congressional boundaries for the purpose of electing candidates every 10 years.

Currently, Illinois doesn't do that in any sane fashion. Instead, when Republicans and Democrats deadlock over the boundaries and all attempts at compromise fail, as usually happens - as it did in 1981, 1991 and 2001 -- they submit to a winner-take-all lottery that gives one party or the other total control over the map-making process. That tiebreaker literally has Illinois' secretary of state pulling a slip of paper identifying the winner from a hat. In the past, they've used a stovepipe hat of the kind worn by Abe Lincoln. It has been called "Russian roulette districting."

In any case, we cannot imagine more of an insult to the Great Emancipator than that, because the status quo enslaves Illinois voters to a system that has produced some of the most egregious gerrymandering in America, that as often as not robs voters of viable choices in competitive elections because it discourages quality newcomers from entering any race where the nominee of the preordained majority party is virtually guaranteed to win. It has given a very unfair advantage to incumbents. We do not believe it has led to governance by the best and brightest.

In effect, the current system has so tilted the field in favor of one party or the other that it is a declaration of war on democracy. Arguably such selfish manipulation of the system in pursuit of single-party control - it's about self-preservation and their hold on power, not about you the constituent - has helped construct a political climate that may be without peer nationally in terms of corruption. You'd think party leaders would jump at the chance for reform, given that Illinois' political representation in the federal prison system has been absolutely bipartisan. Alas, we won't hold our breath.

If it were up to us, we'd have a computer draw the map, as they've done in Iowa with some success. At least Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 69 is a start on a fairer process.